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Hurricanes /Tropical Storms

​​The University of Houston Downtown continually monitors and assesses storm activity in our region. We are directly connected to The National Weather Service’s Update Bulletins, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in addition to several other weather tracking sites.  The UHD community will be notified of critical information via a combination of emails, text messages, and digital displays. Notifications for public viewing will be published to the UHD Home Page, UHD Facebook, UHD Twitter , and UHD Alerts on Twitter. Atlantic Hurricane Season runs June 1 – November 30. 

Weather Definitions 

  • Hurricane Watch (Be Prepared): An announcement issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph (64 kt) or higher are possible within the specified area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds. 
  • Warning (Take Action): An announcement issued by the National Weath​er Service (NWS) that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds. 
  • Tropical Storm: An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph (34-63 kt). 
  • Tropical Depression: An organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 38 mph (33 kt) or less ​

What to do on campus (Students) 

  • Take personal belongings with you when you leave campus. You may not be able to access campus for several days.  
  • Remove all food from refrigerators 
  • Charge all technology and have backup portable chargers with you 
  • Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away. 
  • Monitor emergency information and alerts. 
  • If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone and local officials tell you to evacuate, do so immediately and notify your professors and supervisors.

​What to do on campus (Employees) 

  • Remove all food from refrigerators. You may not be able to access campus for several days. 
  • Unplug appliances and desktops. Take your laptop with you. 
  • Move electronics away from windows 
  • Secure your UHD offices 
  • Charge all technology and have backup portable chargers with you 
  • Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters.  Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away. 
  • Pay attention to emergency information and alerts. 
  • If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone and local officials tell you to evacuate, do so immediately and notify your supervisor. 

What to do off-campus 

  • Stayed tuned in: Check the websites of your local National Weather Service office, National Hurricane Center (noaa.gov) and City of Houston Office of Emergency Management ​ Find out what type of emergencies could occur and how you should respond. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or other radio or TV stations for the latest storm news. 
  • Follow instructions issued by local officials. Leave immediately if ordered!  Pack a go-bag, secure important legal, financial, and medical documents, withdraw cash, gather supply of medications and fill car’s gas tank or find alternative transportation to shelter. 

If NOT ordered to evacuate: 

  • Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level during the storm. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can. 
  • Stay away from windows, skylights, and glass doors. 
  • ​If the eye of the storm passes over your area, there will be a short period of calm, but at the other side of the eye, the wind speed rapidly increases to hurricane force winds coming from the opposite direction. 
  • Do not walk, swim or drive in floodwaters! 
  • If trapped in a building, go to its highest level (avoid enclosed attics).  Go onto the roof only if necessary. ​

How to prepare 

Use the following links and information to help guide and prepare you for hurricanes and severe weather. 

  • Why Hurricane Categories Make a Difference: During a hurricane you usually hear meteorologists refer to its intensity by categories. If you don't know the difference between a category 1 and a category 5 hurricane, The Weather Channel breaks it down for you. 
  • Learn about the Hurricane Wind Scale 
  • National Weather Service’s PowerPoint Presentation (weather.gov) 
  • Department of Homeland Security, Build A Kit | Ready.gov ​
  • Ensure you have at least a week’s worth of food, water, supplies and medication.  Consider food not needing refrigeration. 
  • Purchase a battery powered or hand crank radio to keep informed in the event of a power outage.    
  • Make a plan. Consider if you will evacuate or shelter in place.  Both require significant preparation so ensure you take appropriate actions for either option.  Review the links above for information.     
  • Prepare your home, businesses and other structures before the storm.   
  • Be familiar with how to turn off your property’s gas, electricity and other utilities.  
  • Know your Storm Surge Risk